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Detection of acidic gases such as HCl in industrial settings is essential for safeguarding the environment and human health. In particular, halochromic-dye-based colorimetric textile sensors—which are cost-effective, flexible systems that can enable visual detection—show promise for HCl gas detection. However, their limited dyeability and wash fastness on cotton fibers restrict their practical utility. Nevertheless, these issues can potentially be resolved through UV-induced photografting, which can help generate covalent bonds between the halochromic dye and cotton fibers. Therefore, in the present study, two graftable rhodamine dyes were synthesized by incorporating radical-sensitive vinyl or styrene groups into a pH-sensitive rhodamine derivative. Subsequently, textile sensors were fabricated by UV-induced photografting, which was optimized by probing the effects of the UV energy, comonomer, pH, photoinitiator, co-initiator, and dye concentration on sensing efficiency. The HCl gas detection performance, durability, and reusability of the sensors were investigated thereafter. The sensors exhibited high detection rates, distinct color changes upon HCl exposure, even at low concentrations (< 100 ppm), as well as remarkable washability and reusability. Furthermore, the sensors were integrated with an RGB sensor to accurately detect color changes under low-light conditions. Overall, this study demonstrates the feasibility of adopting UV-induced photografting to prepare textile sensors that can improve safety in industrial settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tetraacetyl phytosphingosine (TAPS) is a precursor that has antibacterial and wound-healing properties and is used in the synthesis of ceramides. Wickerhamomyces ciferrii is a non-conventional yeast that has the ability to produce and secrete TAPS extracellularly. However, the genetic engineering tools available for this yeast species are limited. In this study, an auxotrophic strain Y94 of W. ciferrii was developed through random mutation and screening under 1.5 g/L 5-fluoroorotic acid. Additionally, an expression vector was constructed which harbors an uracil selection marker and CEN/ARS origin of replication. Using requisite mutations and expression vectors, we successfully constructed an engineered strain that overexpressed LCB1, LCB2, and SYR2, with the deletion of LCB4, resulting in the highest reported TAPS titer to date (20 g/L) through high cell density fermentation. This study demonstrates the potential of W. ciferrii for TAPS production and highlights the significance of an efficient genetic engineering toolbox in enhancing yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we provide new findings that add to the growing body of empirical evidence that important epistemic intuitions converge across cultures. Specifically, we selected three surprising effects of knowledge attribution recently obtained among US-based participants. We translated the vignettes used in the US studies into Mandarin Chinese and Korean and then ran the studies with participants in Mainland China, Taiwan, and South Korea. We found that, strikingly, all three of the effects first obtained in the US also emerged in the East Asian cultures we studied. Our findings not only cohere with but also provide—at least moderate—support for the existence of extensive convergences of important epistemic intuitions across cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical compartmentalization of metabolism using membranous organelles in eukaryotes is helpful for chemical biosynthesis to ensure the availability of substrates from competitive metabolic reactions. Bacterial hosts lack such a membranous system, which is one of the major limitations for efficient metabolic engineering. Here, we employ kinetic compartmentalization with the introduction of an unnatural enzymatic reaction by an engineered enzyme as an alternative strategy to enable substrate availability from competitive reactions through kinetic isolation of metabolic pathways. As a proof of concept, we kinetically isolate the itaconate synthetic pathway from the tricarboxylic acid cycle in Escherichia coli, which is natively separated by mitochondrial membranes in Aspergillus terreus. Specifically, 2-methylcitrate dehydratase is engineered to alternatively catalyze citrate and kinetically secure cis-aconitate for efficient production using a high-throughput screening system. Itaconate production can be significantly improved with kinetic compartmentalization and its strategy has the potential to be widely applicable. Unlike eukaryotic system, bacterial hosts lack membranous system, which is one of the limitations for efficient metabolic engineering. Here, the authors report a kinetic compartmentalization strategy to increase substrate availability from competitive reactions for the efficient production of itaconate in E. coli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The herd behavior of technology users, i.e., adopters observe the decisions (but not the reasoning) of prior adopters and imitate their system usage behaviors, is prominentin the information technology (IT) industry. However, such en mass adoptions areprone to be fragile. Adopters may reverse their decisions, after an initial adoption, andabandon system use when updated contradictory information is presented. This phenomenon of herd-like abandonment, at both individual and organizational levels, is significant and requires more investigation, since it is connected to the durability of particular products and technologies in the marketplace. In addition, IS behaviors of users at the later phases of IS life cycle, i.e., termination phase, are the primary source of benefit for organizations. This study develops and empirically validates a theoretical model of IS abandonment in a herding context. We test our model via a longitudinal research design, which surveys adopters at two different points in time. The study examines the determinants of adopters' abandonment intentions, which occure specially after an initial en mass adoption (i.e., a herding setting). Results suggest that post-adoptive task-technology fit, perceptions of niche, and observation of a criticalmass of abandoners are all salient factors affecting IS abandonment intentions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Programming a new function into cells and balancing new functions with native cellular metabolism or program related to cell growth have long been a challenge in metabolic engineering. In this regard, advances in synthetic biology and systems biology have broadly expanded the cell growth control strategies, empowering the strategies to be applied in metabolic engineering more effectively. In this review, we describe the advances and perspectives in cell growth control strategies. First, the strategies to utilize the environmental stress was described. Second, the strategies to precisely regulate the central metabolism and to exploit the cellular programs were summarized. Third, strategies related to evolutionary engineering, which have evolved significantly, including the emergence of new types of screening devices, have been summarized. Lastly, we described the strategies through exploiting new systems that are being actively applied in metabolic engineering. We hope that our review can provide enough information and perspectives in growth control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The early detection of dysphagia, a common clinical issue among older adults, is important. However, healthcare professionals sometimes experience difficulties in applying the current screening tools to older adults. Therefore, we developed the Easy Dysphagia Symptom Questionnaire (EDSQ), a simplified tool for the older adults, and investigated its reliability and validity.Methods: The 12-item "yes/no" EDSQ assesses dysphagia symptoms, with a total score being the sum of all "yes" responses. Each item was determined by consensus of three physiatrists after reviewing the previous dysphagia questionnaires. Participants were aged 65 years or older who either complained of or were suspected by a physician of facing swallowing disturbance. They completed the EDSQ, modified water swallow test (MWST), and videofluoroscopic swallowing study. The EDSQ's internal consistency was assessed. Correlations between the EDSQ total score and the MWST, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's National Outcome Measurement System (ASHA NOMS) swallowing scale, and videofluoroscopic dysphagia scale (VDS) were analyzed.Results: The sample comprised 51 participants (29 male, 56.9%; mean age 76.7 ± 6.6 years). Mean EDSQ total score was 4.33 ± 3.03 (range 0-12). Regarding the EDSQ's reliability, the Cronbach's α coefficient was 0.785. The EDSQ total score correlated with the MWST (r = − 0.468, p = 0.001), ASHA NOMS swallowing scale (r = − 0.635, p < 0.001), and VDS (r = 0.449, p = 0.001). The receiver-operating characteristic analysis revealed an optimal cut-off score of ≥ 5, with a sensitivity of 90.9% and a specificity of 67.5%.Conclusions: The EDSQ showed acceptable reliability and validity, indicating its applicability to older adults as a simple screening tool for safe swallowing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluoropyrimidine (F) and platinum (P) combination chemotherapy has been widely used as a first-line treatment of advanced gastric cancer (AGC). Docetaxel has shown promising activity against this disease. In this study, we explored the efficacy and safety of docetaxel monotherapy as salvage chemotherapy in AGC after F and P combination chemotherapy failed. From October 2004 to October 2005, 49 eligible patients were enrolled in this study. The median treatment-free interval was 28.0 days, and 81.6% of patients had suffered cancer progression within 4 months after the withdrawal of first-line chemotherapy. Docetaxel was given IV at a dose of 75 mg/m2 every 3 weeks, together with dexamethasone prophylaxis. A total of 182 cycles of docetaxel were administered with a median of 3 (range 1–9) cycles. From an intention-to-treat analysis, eight patients achieved objective response with a response rate of 16.3% (95% CI, 6.0–26.6). The median response duration was 4.7 months. A total of 20 patients showed stable disease, but 17 patients suffered disease progression. At a median follow-up duration of 11.3 months for surviving patients (range 6.3–18.8 months), the median time to disease progression was 2.5 months (95% CI, 2.3–2.7) and the median overall survival time since the start of docetaxel monotherapy was 8.3 months (95% CI, 6.7–9.8). Grade 3/4 neutropenia and febrile neutropenia occurred in 18.4% of patients and in 5.4% of cycles. The incidence of non-hematologic toxicities of grade 3 or worse was asthenia 32.7%, diarrhea 10.2% and peripheral sensory neuropathy 8.2%. Docetaxel at 75 mg/m2 is active against AGC as second-line chemotherapy after prior exposure to F and P combination chemotherapy. The toxicity profile is moderate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]